Best Nature and Parks (RV, National, Dog, etc) in Ashton upon Mersey

"Lavish Elizabethan-style hall with ornamental gardens, including picnic areas, a kids' zoo and cafe. Address : Walton Lea Rd, Higher Walton, Warrington WA4 6SN, United Kingdom"

"Open every day of the year, from morning until nightfall – and completely free to visit – the vibrant Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Garden in Didsbury is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. In spring, the space comes alive with a burst of colour from its various wild flowers – with deep purples and warm oranges. It’s home to a host of wildlife, too – including a wide variety of birds."

"Founded in 1917, this large green space - part botanical garden and part wildlife habitat - is an engaging contrast to the busy city center. There are numerous walking trails on the property, as well as regular guided "health" walks. Popular things to do here include enjoying a stroll or picnic, or opting for more strenuous activities, such as tennis, rugby, or football."

"A walk together in the outdoors is just the thing to keep this romantic day rolling. The Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens is an organic dream with a nature trail that winds through gardens and wooded areas. Visitors should investigate the botanical gardens and the old parsonage, which is historic and adds a picturesque quality to the scene."

"The Peak District's extraordinary geology can be seen up close in this large limestone cave far beneath the 100 acres of Buxton Country…"

"Originally built by the Victorians, the Pavillion Gardens are made up of 23 acres of pleasure gardens situated right in the centre of town. Stroll past the colourful flower beds, spread your picnic blanket out under the shade of a tree, go boating on the lake, let the kids loose in the play area and take a ride on the miniature train. This is truly the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon."

"Set within 23 acres, Buxton Pavillion Gardens is beautifully manicured with ornamental lakes, flowerbeds, mature trees, meandering paths and a wrought iron bandstand. It makes for a wonderful stroll and a perfect picnic spot on a warm day. But if you are visiting Buxton with kids, they’ll probably want to make a beeline to one of the two fantastic playgrounds in the gardens."

"If you’re going to be visiting Legoland, be aware that Manchester’s SEA LIFE centre is located right next door and a joint ticket can be purchased for both destinations. You can roam the centre, walking through tunnels of exotic fish and coming face to face with sharks and stingrays; your kids can also have a go at diving in the immersive sea trek experience. Anyone can participate in this fantastic activity (the only one of its kind in Europe), wearing a special breath-easy helmet and a wetsuit to ensure that they are safe and comfortable during the ten-minute dive into the deep."

"Location: Intu Trafford Centre, Barton Square Bridge, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AS. Sea Life Manchester is one of the country’s top-rated aquariums and is home to thousands of fish as well as sharks, stingrays, and spider crabs. Meanwhile, two giant green sea turtles (Cammy and Ernie) are a major attraction too."

"Then, Sea Life Manchester Aquarium is an amazing place to visit to get into marine life. You get to see many beautiful species from starfish to seahorses to sharks and many more. Come and witness these beautiful creatures in the crystal clear waters!"

"Historic kitchen & pleasure gardens with ponds, paved pathways & a Victorian greenhouse. Address : Witherwin Avenue Grappenhall, South Warrington WA4 3DS, United Kingdom"

"Prestwich Forest Park consists of four smaller parks which make up 200 acres of woodlands: Philips Park, Drinkwater Park, Waterdale, and Prestwich. These parks can be heavily wooded (particularly Drinkwater), so it’s a beautiful place to spend a day away from the noise of town. Exploring the woods can be an enlightening experience, so long as you take care while wandering amongst the broad-leaved trees."

"The building of the Dancehouse Theatre has had a fascinating history full of transformation, morphing from meeting halls to a multi-screen cinema complex. In the 1990s it was restored to its former Art Deco splendour and was reopened as The Dancehouse Theatre, home to the Northern Ballet School. While the venue presents a broad range of performances including comedy, music and drama, dance lies at the heart of this North West icon."

"Manchester Opera House is the Palace Theatre’s little sister. It’s located on Quay Street, near Spinningfields. It is smaller than the Palace theatre however, there are still some amazing productions to see here."

"One of the newer music venues in the city, Off The Square already looks to be creating an exciting buzz within Manchester’s music community. With lots of exciting and emerging artists on the bill, we’re sure this venue will be legendary in years to come. You never know, you could be telling all your friends about how you saw the next big thing in a basement before they were big."

"Early adopters of the industrial-chic aesthetic that is now seen all over the city and elsewhere, Gorilla has for many, many years been effortlessly cool. Both a bar and club venue, it can fit any kind of night and its club has hosted huge artists and DJs and continues to attract big talent to their small back room. It’s as diverse as you’d expect from a Manc music venue, hosting nights like IAMARAVER, Swiftageddon and Soul Jam"

"A gig venue and late-night bar, Gorilla is also a surprisingly good casual dining space, open from 9am at weekends. The various elements of that eggs Benedict (£5.50) are bright, fresh, pin-sharp. The full English, meanwhile, comes with Gorilla's own-recipe sausages (made by renowned Chorlton butcher WH Frost) and quality bacon from over the border in Cheshire."

"Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 5WW - Visit now. Gorilla’s main selling point is their giant ‘royal’ sized full English breakfasts which come in vegan and veggie varieties too. Sometimes size really does matter, especially if you’re hungover and hungry."

"Ramona have been giving us our click-and-collect pizza fix throughout lockdown and have just announced the opening of a beer garden at their NQ base. Complete with campfires, DJ sets and a margarita bar, Ramona is the place to be on the 14th. Bookings are now live and if you need an indication of how good the pizza is, their site crashed on launch day!"

"Before he founded the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell set up the Salford Lads’ Club in Ordsall in 1903. The idea behind clubs like these was to keep young boys in deprived areas out of trouble, and channel their energy into constructive pursuits and sport. The list of former members here is illustrious and includes the actor Albert Finney, the Busby Babe Eddie Colman and guitarist Graham Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash."

"Located in Salford (Greater Manchester), Salford Lads Club became famous in 1986 when it was featured on the cover of the Smith’s album The Queen is Dead. Manchester is known for its music scene. It boasted some of the most famous rock bands in England and the Smiths are one of them!"

"Discover the fascinating history of Adlington Hall as you tour The Great Hall, the chapel, oak-panelled dining room, the Minstrel’s Gallery, the number 10 bedroom, and more. Alongside the Great Organ, visitors can enjoy the original furniture, paintings, and décor of the building, or wander the gardens, attempt the maze, or enjoy a slice of homemade cake and a cup of tea in the tea room. I Opening Times: Public open days run on Sundays and Bank Holidays during April and September."

"A tremendous mixture of styles, Adlington Hall was founded at the end of the 15th century and then reworked in the 18th century. So while the north and east facades have romantic black and white timber framing the south and west wings are brick built, with a solemn Palladian portico. Adlington is hired out for weddings, but on Sundays between April and October the house and gardens are open to visitors."